Community farm to lose £260k in council funding

Grimsbury Farm in Kingswood costs South Gloucestershire Council £260,000 annually

A popular community farm will stay open despite losing £260,000 towards its annual running costs.

Council funding for Grimsbury Farm in Kingswood, Bristol, is being cut.

South Gloucestershire councillors said a "community conversation" will be launched in the spring to discuss options for its future but stressed the farm will remain open for free to the public.

Councillors rejected an option to close and "mothball" the facility as the costs of fencing and surveillance would be too high.

The farm is currently home to a variety of animals

The council funding has gone towards covering vet and staff bills, animal feed and additional welfare costs.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, councillors said if no way is found to make the attraction break even, large animals, including cows, pigs and goats, will be sent elsewhere.

Labour councillor Sean Rhodes said: "We are going to be engaging in community conversations with members of the public to get a better idea of what we need to do to keep Grimsbury Farm going as a little jewel within Kingswood".

Opposition leader Councillor Sam Bromiley said he was encouraged by the intention to secure the site's future but worried about the plan to potentially remove large animals in June.

Grimsbury Farm in Kingswood is a popular attraction with locals

In response Mr Rhodes said: "To say the removal of any animals is a de facto closure is to misunderstand how farms operate.

"Animals come and go throughout the year – that's what a working farm is.

"The simple fact is that as the farm is operating at the moment it is haemorrhaging money and it would be irresponsible for us as a cabinet to continue to allow that money to be lost.

"It is crucial that we find a way of creating a new farm, making it better than it currently is, that delivers more for residents and visitors."